How do stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination occur?

Our attitudes towards “others” can be determined by three factors: the cognitive, which implies a belief (stereotypes), the affective, which implies emotions and feelings (prejudices), and the behavioural, implying concrete actions (discrimination). The concept of stereotypes was first introduced in the 1920s by Walter Lippmann in his influential work Public Opinion (1922). Lippmann described stereotypes as “pictures in our heads” - mental images that individuals create and apply to entire groups of people. These images act as filters or distortions, shaping how we perceive others and often stand between us and the complexity of reality.

Stereotypes are not neutral: they reflect biases and generalizations that can lead to misunderstandings, discrimination, and exclusion. In intercultural contexts, being aware of our own stereotypes - and actively questioning them - is essential for fostering respectful and authentic interactions. Prejudices are unjustified and mostly negative attitudes towards “others”. Prejudices represent an affective dimension of our attitudes. They include emotions and feelings that can take the form of dislike, mistrust, fear, or even hatred, although more ambivalent and even positive prejudices can also exist.

The real problem with stereotypes and prejudices is their potential to influence our attitudes and behaviours toward other people. They can have very negative consequences such as discrimination, and unjustified and negative behaviour towards members of groups based on their membership. Schools represent a critical space when it comes to generating or reducing stereotypes and prejudices. They have the potential to trigger change in social norms and promote certain values and attitudes. However, developing strategies and pedagogical methods to overcome rather than reinforce social, ethnic, or cultural segregation takes considerable effort. With the rise of social media and the great diversification of information sources, people have direct access to a large amount of unverified information and opinions. Consequently, subjective comments and opinion are taken to be the truth and of equal (or greater) value than other more robust sources. Social media are indeed a perfect vehicle to spread and multiply prejudices and rumours.